INMO(Indian National Mathematical Olympiad) | Complete Guide

Introduction

The Indian National Mathematical Olympiad is a high school mathematics competition held annually in India. Although the examination is held under the National Board of Higher Mathematics(NBHM) umbrella, it is managed by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education(HBCSE).  The INMO test is the second stage in the selection process for the Indian team for the International Mathematical Olympiad, which is hosted by the Science Olympiad Foundation(SOF).

The SOF IMO is an exam that assesses students’ Mathematical understanding and potential. Students participating in the Olympiad exam can evaluate their understanding of the topic and their ability to solve various sums at a school, local, zonal, and worldwide level. We have dedicated a whole new article to the International Mathematical Olympiad, covering all its details. You can check it out at TutorSchool official website.

Event Details

To be eligible for the INMO exam, Candidates must first complete the Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO) of their particular state or zone. They should be studying in grades 8 to 12.

In each area, a maximum of 28 students from grades 8, 9, 10, and 11 and a maximum of 6 students from grade 12 are chosen to participate in the HBCSE INMO.

In case the scores of two participants are even, the Pre-Regional Math Olympiad (Pre-RMO) score will be used to break the tie. If the Pre-RMO score fails to break the score, all candidates will be considered in the final list presented to the HBCSE. In addition to this, five extra females (only female students in grades 8, 9, 10, and 11) are chosen, with the applicants for each region being excluded.

A minimum of five students from non-Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) CBSE schools outside India and a maximum of five students from KV schools outside India may be selected to take the INMO test for that academic year directly. The CBSE and KV  authorities are the chief in charge of student selection. Hundreds of thousands of students appear for the INMO, but only 30 of them are selected. The top 30 candidates undergo training at IMOTC (International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp). Finally, 6 top-notch candidates are selected to represent our country(India) at the international level. 

To register for the INMO, Students must first register for the RMO in their respective regions. The registration window typically opens in September, with specific instructions provided by regional coordinators. Then, students take the RMO exam that serves as the first screening exam. Only the top students from each region qualify for the INMO. Qualified students sit for the INMO, scheduled on January 19, 2025. The results of INMO have already been announced. Students can check their scorecards on the HBCSE official website.

INMO Syllabus

Any aspirant for the International Mathematical Olympiads, such as IMO, EGMO, APMO, and the domestic selection rounds (i.e, RMO, INMO) must be familiar with all the topics covered in the NCERT Mathematics books of Class 8,9, and 10. In addition to the topics covered in the NCERT syllabus, the following areas should be emphasized during preparation for the Olympiad examinations:

• Algebra – This includes topics like Inequalities, progressions, indices, linear equations, binomial theorem and properties of binomial coefficients, complex numbers, polynomials in one and two variables, functional equations, and sequences.

• Plane Geometry – This includes topics like the properties of triangles, quadrilaterals, and circles, standard Euclidean constructions, concurrency and collinearity (Theorems of Ceva and Menelaus), basic trigonometric identities, coordinate geometry, and vectors.

• Number Theory- This area deals with divisibility theory, the division algorithm, the Euclidean algorithm, the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, congruences, the Chinese remainder theorem, and Fermat’s little theorem.

• Combinatorics – This area covers topics like basic enumeration, pigeonhole principle and its applications, recursion, and elementary graph theory.

The organization has also recommended some books for the preparation of these exams. These are Problem Primer for Olympiads; C. R. Pranesachar, B. J. Venkatachala, C. S. Yogananda, An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers; Niven, Zuckerman, Montgomery, Combinatorics For Mathematical Olympiad; S. Muralidharan, Geometry Revisited; H.S.M Coxeter & S.L. Greitzer, and many more could be found on their website.

Students should note that the topics listed herein do not constitute an exhaustive list, and problems in RMO and INMO may include topics not explicitly stated.

Past INMO papers with solutions

The INMO is a highly competitive exam, requiring an in-depth understanding of mathematics at a higher level. Yet, students can crack it through discipline, hard work, and perseverance. First and foremost, students should familiarize themselves with the syllabus, be clear and thorough with concepts, and avoid skipping topics. Once you are all done with the syllabus, you should focus on solving a variety of questions within a stipulated time of four hours to build speed and accuracy. One of the most effective ways to prepare for INMO is by solving previous years’ question papers. This helps you understand the pattern of the exam and the type of problems that are likely to appear. You can find previous year papers and their solutions on the official website of HBCSE. 

Students always have the option to opt for online and offline training programs specifically designed for students preparing for the INMO. These programs offer personalized guidance, practice tests, and expert tips to excel in the exam.

Participating Countries

The Indian National Mathematical Olympiad(INMO) is the third stage after IOQM and RMO in the Mathematical Olympiad Programme in India, which leads to the participation of Indian students in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). These are organized by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) on behalf of the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. Hence, the only participating country in the INMO is India, where students compete domestically.

History of INMO

The Indian National Mathematical Olympiad first started in 1989. It is aimed at bringing the most gifted secondary and higher secondary students of the world together in a friendly competition of the supreme level. The Olympiads do not lead directly to any career benefits; rather, they provide a stimulus to begin a career in science or mathematics, to undertake a lifelong journey into the realms of exciting intellectual challenges. The Olympiads are not merely competitions; they are the meeting places of the brightest young minds of the world, and many friendships forged at the Olympiads form the seeds of scientific collaboration later in life.

Results

Students can check the results of their INMO exam on the HBCSE website. Then, they must look for the INMO results link on the front page. From here, they will be routed to another website.. On this page, there will be a link that states ‘INMO 2025(the specific academic year) results.’ The list of Merit Awardees can be found by clicking the link. The students must next locate their roll number in the list to verify their results. Post which, the qualified candidates have to attend the training.